Chinese national arrested in AP red sanders smuggling case

Hyderabad, May 8: A Chinese national was among two red sanders (sandalwood) smugglers arrested by the Andhra Pradesh police in a joint operation by the Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) and the Chittoor police, a senior police official said here today.

The Chinese national Yang Pang, who is a red sanders buyer from Sichuan province in China and a local red sanders smuggler Srinivasa Raju of Rayachoti of Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh have been arrested, Chittoor District Superintendent of Police G Srinivas said.

As part of an investigation into a case registered by the Puthalapattu police station in Chittoor district, they were arrested last morning in Hyderabad and taken to Chittoor, the SP said today, adding that they had struck a "deal". Efforts are on to arrest the absconding smugglers, he said.

"This is the first ever case handled by the AP police in which a Chinese national allegedly involved in red sanders smuggling was arrested and the Chinese embassy in Delhi has also been informed about the matter," another senior police official said.

The official said that the Chinese buyer had a valid visa and a Chinese passport, which indicated that this was his fourth visit to India. The police also recovered about 10,000 yuan (Chinese currency), besides Rs 10,000 from both the accused, he said.

Incidentally, Srinivasa Raju, the local smuggler was previously arrested by B Kothakota police of Chittoor district, the SP said, adding both the accused were produced before a Chittoor district court which sent them to judicial remand.

PTI